Refuse compactor

ABSTRACT

A REFUSE COMPACTOR COMPRISING A HOUSING, A MAIN COMPACTING MEMBER AND AN AUXILIARY COMPACTING MEMBER SLIDADLY DISPLACEABLE INSIDE THE HOUSING, AND A SINGLE HYDRAULIC ACTUATING UNIT CONNECTED TO BOTH COMPACTING MEMBERS AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF HYDRAULIC PISTONS CONCENTRICALLY MOUNTED AND ARRANGED TO CAUSE TO AND FRO DISPLACEMENT OF THE COMPACTING MEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE HOUSING. THE PROPOSED SINGLE ACTUATING UNIT RESULTS IN A COMPACTOR HAVING A RELATIVELY SLENDER AND EFFECTIVELY COMPACTING SHAPE REQUIRING ONLY A SIMPLE HYDRAULIC CONTROL. COOPERATING TEETH ARE ATTACHED TO THE HOUSING AND TO THE MAIN COMPACTING MEMBER TO SHEAR THE REFUSE ARRIVING FROM A HOPPER AND A GUIDE IS COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED TO THE MAIN COMPACTING MEMBER TO MAINTAIN THE TEETH IN A PROPER ANGULAR RELATIONSHIP.

3,802,337 Apr. 9, 1974 REFUSE COMPACTOR Inventor: Fernando St-Hilaire, Charbesbourg,

Quebec, Canada [73] Assigneez- General Compactor of Quebec Ltd., Quebec, Canada Filed: Oct. 6, 1971 Appl. No.: 186,980

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,384,007 5/1968 Boje et al 100/295 X 1,095,926 5/1914 Powell 100/269 R 2,720,160 10/1955 Tice et al.. 100/98 R 3.303.946 2/1967 Wilkins 100/295 X 3,603,245 9/1971 Pioch 100/295 X 3,621,774 11/1971 Dedio et a1. 100/295 X 3,563,165 2/1971 Powell 100/98 R I f 1 I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 123,066 5/1931 Austria .1 100/98 R Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Pierre Lesperance 5 7] ABSTRACT A refuse compactor comprising a housing, a main compacting member and an auxiliary compacting member slidably displaceable inside the housing, and a single hydraulic actuating unit connected to both compacting members and including a pair of hydraulic pistons concentrically mounted and arranged to cause to and fro displacement of the compacting members relative to each other and to the housing. The proposed single actuating unit results in a compactor having a relatively slender and effectively compacting shape requiring only a simple hydraulic control. Cooperating teeth are attached to the housing and to the main compacting member to shear the refuse arriving from a hopper and a guide is cooperatively associated to the main compacting member to maintain the teeth in a proper angular relationship.

2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures I, '11 L f 156%., 8 '11 14 11B (J O\ g a qu 1 REFUSE COMPACTOR This invention relates to a refuse compactor, more particularly of the type arranged to compact refuse into bags, boxes or the like.

There is known a refuse compactor of the above type which includes two main hydraulic actuators and an auxiliary hydraulic actuator arranged in parallel and radially spaced-apart relative to each other. Such compactor requires a relatively involved control to perform satisfactorily and, furthermore, produces a construction which is relatively wide and which, therefore, requires substantial power to effect a compaction stroke.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a refuse compactor which is of simpler construction and operation.

It is. another general object of the invention to provide a refuse compactor which is amenable to a relatively slender shape for optimized compacting effi ciency.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a refuse Compactor of the above type with a pair of compacting members and a pair of hydraulic actuators connected thereto and concentrically arranged into a single actuating unit arranged to produce a relatively slender refuse compactor.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a refuse Compactor having cooperating sets of teeth to effect positive shearing of the refuse projecting out of the compacting chamber.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view in perspective of a refuse compactor according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the refuse compactor of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 2a and 2b, on the second sheet of drawings, are longitudinal sections corresponding to FIG. 2, but showing the pistons in two different operative positions;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view as seen along line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an'enlarged front view of one of the teeth mounted on the main compacting member;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section as seen along line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a tooth as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a hydraulic actuating unit according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-section as seen along line 8-8 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a partial top plan view of the two sets of cooperating teeth as seen along line 9-9 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal section in the area of the cooperating teeth.

The illustrated refuse compactor includes a generally cylindrical housing 1 having a cylindrical compaction chamber 2 therein. The housing I is closed at one end by an access plate or panel 3, in any suitable manner, to allow access inside the chamber 2. The other end of the housing 1 includes a tapering or conical portion 4 arranged to cause compaction of the refuse which is pushed outwardly against it. The housing 1 further includes an ejecting nozzle portion 5 fixed at the small end of the conical portion 4. The ejecting nozzle portion 5 is formed into a sleeve around which a supply of plastic tubing 6 is positioned and retained in any suitable manner. The tubing 6 gradually slips off the outer end of the nozzle portion 5 when engaged by the ejected refuse, in order to envelope the latter.

The housing 1 is supported by transverse blocks 7 and joined to a hopper 8 which forms therewith a refuse inlet extending laterally into the compaction chamber 2 immediately upstream of the large end of the conical portion 5. Hopper 8 is adapted to receive refuse, for instance, from a refuse chute in an apartment building. A control console 9, preferably seated onto the cylindrical housing 1, as shown in FIG. I, includes the desired controls, not forming part of the present invention, to operate the refuse compactor as defined later.

A main compacting member 10, of tubular shape, is mounted for slidable lengthwise displacement into the refuse compaction chamber 2. The main compacting member 10 has a substantially closed end 11, except for a centrally located bore 12 therethrough. A transverse partition 13 is fixed inside the main compacting member 10 and is provided with a central opening.

A first series of teeth 14 are accurately fixed along the peripheral edge of the outside surface of the closed end 11 and extend along an arc subtending the arc defined by the refuse outlet of the hopper 8 around the compaction chamber 2, as shown in FIG. 3.

Each tooth 14 has a longitudinally extending triangular portion forming two converging shearing edges 15, which are the side edges of outer convex face 40. The base of each tooth 14 has radially inwardly converging side edges 41. Side edges 41 of adjacent teeth 14 abut one another and convex faces 40 form a continuous partially cylindrical external surface.

A second series of teeth 14 are secured, as by welding, to the downstream wall of hopper 8; extend along the edge of the refuse outlet of hopper 8 around the compaction chamber 2; and subtend an arc substantially equal to the arc made by teeth 14.

Each tooth 14' has a longitudinally extending triangular portion forming two converging shearing edges 15', which are the side edges of a radially'inner concave face 40'. Each tooth 14 has a base provided with radially inwardly converging side edges 41. Side edges 41 of adjacent teeth 40' abut one another and the concave faces 40 are substantially in slidable contact with the convex faces 40 of teeth 14 when main compaction member 10 moves past the row of teeth 14'.

As shown in FIG. 9, the two sets of teeth are oppositely directed and the shearing edges 15 of the teeth 14 are at a different inclination from the inclination of the shearing edges 15 of the teeth 14. During intersecting movement of the two sets of teeth, the edges 15, 15' cooperate to effectively shear any garbage or refuse material in the path of the teeth to effectively cut off the refuse in the compaction chamber 2 from the refuse in the hopper 8.

In order to maintain proper angular orientation of the arcuate series of teeth 14 relative to the arcuate series of teeth 14', a guiding rod 17 is fixed longitudinally into the chamber 2 and operatively engages the main compacting member 10 to guide the latter. The apices 45 of teeth 14 are laterally offset relative to the apices 45' of teeth 14' to the extent of half the width of a tooth.

An auxiliary compacting member 18, of smaller cross-section than the main compacting member 10, is slidably mounted for to and fro movement relative to the latter into the bore 12.

A single hydraulic actuating unit 19, particularly illustrated in detail in FIG. 7, is provided to cause to and fro displacement of both the main compacting member and the auxiliary compacting member 18, as will be explained hereinafter.

The single hydraulic actuating unit 19 essentially comprises a pair of pistons 20 and 21 engaging one into the other and connected to the main and the auxiliary compacting members respectively to cause the to and fro displacement thereof. The piston 20 has a block 22 fixed at one end thereof and arranged to slide longitudinally into a hydraulic cylinder 23. The block 22 is sealed in piston-like manner inside the cylinder 23 and arranged to be acted upon on either of its two opposite sides to form with the cylinder 23 a main dual action hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic cylinder 23 is provided with fluid inlet outlets 24 at opposite ends thereof which are connected to an appropriate fluid supply, not shown, by fluid lines 25 and 26 of any suitable type.

Th hydraulic cylinder 23 is pivotally fixed at one end by a transverse pin 27 carried by a bracket 28, which is fixed to the housing 1 inside the chamber 2.

The end of the piston 20 outside the hydraulic cylindcr 23 is fixed, in any suitabl manner, to the transverse partion 13 to transmit to and fro displacement to the latter and to the main compacting member 10. The piston 20 is hol-ow defining an interior cylindrical cavity 29.

The piston 21 is provided at one end with an annular piece 30 positioned inside the cavity 29 and of any suitable construction to be acted upon on either of its two opposite sides to form with the hollow piston 20 an auxiliary dual action hydraulic actuator. The other end of th piston 21 is fixed to the auxiliary compacting member 18 to transmit to and fro displacement thereto.

A cap 31 is fixed at the end of the hollow piston 20 opposite the block 22 and forms an annular enlargement with respect to the hollow piston 20. The cap 31 has inlet outlets 32 and 33. A fluid passage 34 extends lengthwise through the wall of the hollow piston 20, such that the inlet outlets 32, 33 communicate with the opposite extremities of the cylindrical cavity 29 to form a dual action auxiliary hydraulic actuator with the piston 21 and such as to maintain the fluid communication for any position of the hollow piston 20 inside the hydraulic cylinder 23.

Fluid lines 35 and 36 each having at least a section which is extensible are connected to the inlet outlets 33 and 32, respectively.

It will be noted that pressurization of the fluid lines 25 and 35 causes extension of the pistons 20 and 21 respectively, and pressurization of the fluid lines 26 and 36 causes retraction of the same pistons.

Preferably, a stroke starts from the rest position shown in FIG. 2. The main hydraulic actuator is first operated, bvy pressurizing line 25, resulting in displacement and traversing of the main compacting member 10 vis-a-vis the refuse inlet defined by the hopper 8. During that course, the teeth 14,14 shear the refuse standing in their paths of travel. When the hollow piston 20 has been fully extended, the position illustrated in FIG. 2a has been reached. The piston 21 is still fully retracted, the main compacting member 10 closes the refuse inlet and the closed end 11 thereof stands adjacent the large end of the conical portion 4 of the housing 1.

The piston 21 is then operated, causing the auxiliary compacting member 18 to engage inside the conical portion 4 and partly inside the ejecting nozzle portion 5. The refuse which was compressed by the conical portion 4 upon the forward stroke of main compacting member 10, enters into the initially tied end ofthe plastic tubing 6 simultaneously urging the latter to slip off from around the sleeve defining the ejecting nozzle portion 5. Upon completion of the outward course of the piston 21, the plastic tube 6 is tied at th outer end of the ejecting nozzle portion 5 forming a disposable core of refuse 37, as shown in FIG. 1. A support 38 having a semicylindrical groove 39 may be provided to support and guide the cores of refuse 37.

When the piston 21 reaches the outermost position shown in FIG. 2b, first the piston 21 and thereafter the piston 20 are caused to retract fully to the rest position ready for the start of another stroke or cycle.

It must be appreciated that many modifications to the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refuse compactor comprising a housing, a main and an auxiliary compacting member slidably mounted within said housing and arranged for to and fro displacement therein and relative to each other and independently of each other, said main compacting member being of tubular shape with a closed outer end having a central bore, a partition fixed to and extending within said tubular main compacting member intermediate the ends thereof, said partition having a central opening, and a single double-acting telescopic hydraulic cylinder and piston unit for actuating both compacting members, said unit comprising a main hydraulic cylinder having one end pivotally connected to said housing, a main piston in said main cylinder, a main piston rod connected at one end to said main piston and extending outwardly from the other end of said main cylinder, the latter having hydraulic fluid openings at both ends thereof for reciprocating said piston by hydraulic fluid, said main piston rod fixed to said partition at its outer end, said main piston rod being hollow to form a cylindrical cavity extending lengthwise thereof, a second piston in said cylindrical cavity, a second piston rod secured to said second piston and extending through the central opening of said partition and carrying said auxiliary compacting member at its outer end, the outer end of said main piston rod having a first hydraulic fluid opening in direct communication with said cylindrical cavity on one side of said second piston and second fluid opening in communication with a-longitudinal passage made in the wall of said main piston rod and in communication with said cylindrical cavity on the other side of said second piston and adjacent said main piston, said first and second fluid openings arranged to circulate hydraulic fluid in said cylindrical cavity independently of fluid circulation in said main cylinder and even when said main piston rod is in retracted postion within said main cylinder.

2. A refuse compactor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a lengthwise refuse compaction chamber, a refuse inlet extends laterally into said refuse compaction chamber, two cooperating sets of teeth are fixed to said main compacting member and to an edge of said inlet respectively, and arranged to shear refuse coming out of said refuse inlet upon compacting displacement of said main compacting member, and guide means is operatively associated to said housing and main compacting member and arranged to maintain the two sets of teeth in proper angular orientation with respect to each other, whereby to produce said shearing and wherein each tooth of the two cooperating sets of teeth form a triangular portion with shearing side edges converging towards the apex of said triangular portion, the triangular portions of one set of teeth being oppsotely directed with respect to the triangular portions of the other set of teeth, each set of teeth having a face defined by the two shearing edges with the faces of all the teeth of one set adapted to come in slidable contact with the faces of all the teeth of the other set, the shearing edges of one set of teeth having a different inclination than the shearing edges of the other set of teeth and the apices of the triangular portions of one set of teeth being laterally offset with respect to the apices of the triangular portions of the other set of teeth. 

